Another agonizing Mo-ment for Salah's Egyptian fans

Donning Liverpool jerseys, Egyptian soccer fans cheered the name of their hero, Mo Salah, even as they struggled to hide their disappointment at the Reds' loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

It was another heartbreaking blow for Salah, who was reduced to tears twice earlier this year following Egypt's losses to Senegal－first, in the African Cup of Nations final, and later in a World Cup playoff.

To rub salt into his wounds, Salah missed from the spot in the penalty shootout of the playoff.

In those matches, Liverpool's African stars Salah and Senegalese Sadio Mane were on opposing teams.

On Saturday, they suffered in defeat together.

"It's really not the year of Salah," said Youssef Mohammed, a 21-yearold accounting student, wearing a Liverpool jersey, at a Cairo park where a giant screen was installed for the match.

"We had more chances, better ball possession, but less luck, so in the end, Real stole the victory from us," said 37-year-old Khaled Youssef.

Youssef, a leading member of the official Egyptian Liverpool supporters' club, which has 215,000 followers on Facebook, said supporting the Reds and being Egyptian makes him "the least fortunate fan in the world".

On Saturday, fans filled cafes across Cairo, sporting red scarves, waving flags to Liverpool anthem You'll Never Walk Alone and hoping for a victory against the Spanish side.

All prayed, danced and chanted in the hopes of another Liverpool win similar to that of the 2019 Champions League final when the Reds beat Tottenham Hotspur.

Salah wished that "the 2022 final will be different from that of 2018", when he went off injured and Madrid won 3-1.

"We have a score to settle," Salah said on social media moments after Madrid set up the rematch with Liverpool.

Heads slumped in Cairo as the referee signaled the match's end with Madrid winning 1-0.

"It is the latest disaster in a repeat scenario," said Amir Said, a 35-year-old engineer who is also a member of Liverpool's Official Egyptian Supporters' Club.

Salah is still an icon for millions in Egypt where he often features on giant billboards across the capital, Cairo.

He often springs up on TV ads for everything from a national anti-drugs campaign to promotions for soft drinks and luxury residences.

Pride of Anfield

Meanwhile on Merseyside, disappointed Liverpool supporters drowned their sorrows in a pub near the club's Anfield stadium. However, after winning two trophies this season, they were confident even more success lies ahead next term.

The reverse in Paris came a week after Liverpool missed out on the Premier League title, with Manchester City hanging on by a single point.

Up until then, Liverpool had been eyeing an unprecedented quadruple of trophies in a single season but had to settle for lifting the FA Cup and English League Cup in a gruelling campaign where it played every possible match.

Fans watching the final on television at the Arkles pub next to Liverpool's home ground were confident the team would bounce back under manager Jurgen Klopp.

"My dad's been watching the football for 80-odd years. We always keep on dreaming and we always keep on believing," one supporter told AFP.

"We're disappointed now but we'll get over it, and we'll go again next season, and with Jurgen Klopp in charge anything is possible and that's all I've got to say."

Liverpool lost 1-0 at Stade de France with Vinicius Junior scoring the only goal for Madrid as the Spanish giant was crowned king of Europe for a record-extending 14th time.

"Unlucky, you know. We did everything but put the ball in the back of the net. They scored one goal out of two shots. What can you do?" said another crestfallen fan.

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen, who also played for Madrid, echoed those sentiments, insisting the Reds were unlucky.

Owen, now a BT Sport soccer analyst, said: "I still think Liverpool is the best team in Europe."

AFP